The story is told that when Jesuit Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach [1] was set to step down as 29th superior general of the Jesuit order, he was asked what work he would do next.

His answer: “Whatever the next superior general tells me.”

I thought of this after learning today that Pope Benedict has decided [2] he will be called “His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman pontiff emeritus,” starting 8 p.m. Thursday Rome time, when he leaves his office. Benedict has also decided he will continue to wear a white cassock, though he will no longer be seen in red shoes.

Alas, brown shoes.

So it seems we will have two white-cassocked prelates inside Vatican walls. Whatever signal this sends out -- in my opinion, not a good one -- it does not seem to be a wise gesture.

There seems to have been more wisdom in Kolvenbach’s approach to retirement.